title: [Levels of inflammatory cytokines and plasma cortisol in respiratory syncytial virus bronchiolitis].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  An increased inflammatory innate response may play a role in pathogenesis of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To quantify pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6-IL-8, ÍL-2-P and TNF-a) in nasopharyngeal aspirate (NPA) and plasma, and plasma cortisol in previously healthy infants with RSV bronchiolitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied 49 infants aged less than one year of age with RSV bronchiolitis and 25 healthy controls. Severity was defined using a previously described modified score. We quantified interleukins in NPA and plasma by flow cytometry and plasma cortisol by radioimmunoanalysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among patients with RSV bronchiolitis, 25 were classified as severe and 24 as moderate or mild. Significantly higher levels of IL-6 and IL-8 in NPA and plasma and IL-lfi in NPA were found in children classified as severe, when compared to those with moderate or mild disease and controls. There was a positive correlation between IL-6 and cortisol in plasma (r = 0,55; p < 0,0001) and both were correlated with the severity of the disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  RSV bronchiolitis severity was associated with higher levéis of inflammatory interleukins and plasma cortisol.
authors.affiliation: Programa Fisiopatología, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Patricia V
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Díaz
authors.forename: Aldo A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Gaggero
authors.forename: Ricardo A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Pinto
authors.forename: Rossana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mamani
authors.forename: Paola A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Uasapud
authors.forename: María Rosa
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Bono
mesh_terms: D001988:Bronchiolitis / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D007223:Infant; D007378:Interleukins / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D009305:Nasopharynx / Q000821:virology; D018357:Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D007378:Interleukins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D006854:Hydrocortisone